TikTok plans to shut down its app in the U.S. on Sunday, according to sources.

TikTok Faces Potential Shutdown in the U.S. on Sunday

TikTok is preparing to cease its U.S. operations on Sunday, affecting its 170 million American users, unless a last-minute intervention prevents the enforcement of a federal ban, according to sources familiar with the situation. The shutdown stems from a law requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations by January 19.

Federal Ban and Legal Dispute

The federal ban, signed into law last April, mandates the removal of TikTok from Apple’s and Google’s app stores if ByteDance fails to comply with the divestment deadline. The law also prohibits U.S. companies from providing services necessary for the platform’s maintenance or updates, effectively making the app inoperable for existing users.

ByteDance has argued in court filings that the law violates the First Amendment’s protections against government restrictions on free speech. The company has requested at least a delay in the law’s implementation, stating that a ban would disrupt services for tens of millions of users worldwide due to the reliance on U.S.-based service providers.

Potential Intervention and Reprieve

The Washington Post reported that President-elect Donald Trump, whose term begins a day after the ban’s enforcement, is considering issuing an executive order to suspend the ban for 60 to 90 days. However, it remains unclear how such an order would align with existing legal frameworks. The Trump transition team declined to comment on the matter, with incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz stating, “We’re going to find a way to preserve [TikTok] but protect people’s data.”

Meanwhile, the Biden administration has indicated it has no plans to intervene if the Supreme Court upholds the ban. A White House official noted that any potential action would require ByteDance to present a credible divestment plan.

Congressional Debate

Efforts to extend ByteDance’s divestment deadline by 270 days were blocked in the Senate this week. Republican Senator Tom Cotton opposed the proposal, while Democratic Senator Ed Markey sought unanimous consent for the extension.

TikTok’s Contingency Plans

If the ban is enforced, TikTok plans to display a pop-up message directing users to a website explaining the shutdown. The company also intends to provide users with the option to download their personal data before the app becomes inaccessible.

TikTok’s legal team, led by lawyer Noel Francisco, informed the Supreme Court that the platform would effectively “go dark” if the ban is upheld. Sources revealed that the shutdown aims to shield service providers from legal liability while allowing TikTok to resume operations quickly if the ban is later reversed.

Broader Implications

TikTok’s court filings emphasize that a U.S. shutdown could disrupt services for users in other countries. The company relies on hundreds of U.S.-based service providers, which would no longer be able to support the platform’s global operations starting Sunday. ByteDance estimates that up to one-third of its American user base could abandon the platform if the ban lasts for a month.

Ownership and Response

ByteDance, which is privately held, is majority-owned by institutional investors, including BlackRock and General Atlantic. Its founders and employees own the remaining stakes. Despite its significant U.S. workforce of over 7,000 employees, the company has not publicly commented on the potential shutdown.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on whether to uphold the law, overturn it, or delay its implementation remains pending. As the deadline approaches, TikTok users and stakeholders await clarity on the platform’s future in the United States.